A method for producing a collagen meniscus implant by obtaining a freshly excised non-human meniscus, rinsing it in an aqueous solution, drying the rinsed meniscus, shaping it to approximate in dimension an average-sized human meniscus, extracting non-collagenous material from the shaped meniscus, cross-linking, and sterilizing it, yielding a collagen meniscus implant containing at least 90% by weight of type I collagen, less than 0.5% by weight of native glycosaminoglycan, and less than 600 ppm DNA. Also disclosed is a collagen meniscus implant prepared by the above method. Further provided is a biocompatible and bioresorbable porous implant for meniscus repair. The implant includes a three-dimensional network of collagen fibers oriented in a direction approximating the collagen fiber orientation of a human meniscus. The implant has a size and a contour substantially equivalent to a human meniscus, and has a chemical composition similar to the above-described collagen meniscus implant.

The invention provides a method for delivering cells across the surface of a tissue, the method comprising distributing the cells on and/or within a biomaterial to form a cell bandage and applying the cell bandage to the surface, wherein, after application of the cell bandage to the surface of the tissue, the cells are released from the cell bandage. Further provided is a method for bonding two or more tissues, the method comprising providing a cell bandage in intimate contact with the surfaces to be joined, wherein the cell bandage comprises a biomaterial, said biomaterial having cells distributed on and/or within it.

The present invention relates to a method of providing a graft scaffold for cartilage repair, particularly in a human patient. The method of the invention comprising the steps of providing particles and/or fibres; providing an aqueous solution of a gelling polysaccharide; providing mammalian cells; mixing said particles and/or fibres, said aqueous solution of a gelling polysaccharide and said mammalian cells to obtain a printing mix; and depositing said printing mix in a three-dimensional form. The invention further relates to graft scaffolds and grafts obtained by the method of the invention.

Provided herein is a scaffold comprising a decellularized meniscus tissue, wherein the scaffold is covalently conjugated with heparin and a growth factor. Also provided herein is a method of repairing and/or treating a tissue injury in a subject in need thereof, comprising: providing a scaffold comprising a decellularized meniscus tissue; and repairing and/or treating the tissue injury by implanting the scaffold over the tear, wherein the scaffold is covalently conjugated with heparin and a growth factor.

Compositions comprising a cartilage sheet comprising a plurality of interconnected cartilage tiles and a biocompatible carrier are provided. Methods of manufacturing cartilage compositions comprising a cartilage sheet comprising a plurality of interconnected cartilage tiles are also provided.

Cartilage fibers and implants made therefrom are disclosed, with and without cartilage particles. Methods for making the cartilage fibers and the implants containing them are also disclosed. The implants may be pre-shaped, may be reshapable and, when implanted in a cartilage defect, the implants have good shape retention, little swelling, completely fill the cartilage defect and resist migration from the defect upon irrigation.

A cartilage tissue engineering complex, e.g., a graft, has a cartilage gel or perichondral particles containing chondrocytes as well as a porous frame structure. The cartilage gel or perichondral particles is/are loaded on the porous frame structure to form a cartilage gel/perichondral particle-frame structure complex. The method for preparing the cartilage tissue engineering graft and a use of said graft in repair and reconstruction of articular cartilage are also provided.

Decellularized matrix microspheres comprising a polymeric material and a donor tissue are provided. Also disclosed are structures containing a plurality of decellularized matrix microspheres incorporating a first polymer and a donor tissue; and a second polymer, wherein the decellularized matrix microspheres and the second polymer are in the form of a filament. Methods of treating a tissue injury employing the matrix microspheres and structures described as well as their methods of manufacture are also provided.

Provided are compositions and methods of making a hydrogel-forming composition comprising decellularized porcine nucleus pulposus tissue that is solubilized and supplemented with collagen, then neutralized and thermally gelled in the presence of genipin. The hydrogel-forming composition may be injected into a joint or surrounding tissue of a subject having pain or inflammation. The pain or inflammation may be caused by degeneration of the intervertebral disc (IVD), wherein administration of the hydrogel-forming composition into the IVD may restore the lost disc volume and alleviate the pain and inflammation.

A two-component biomaterial and method that replicates both the structural complexity and diverse molecular composition necessary to create a tissue's form and function. It is an objective of the current invention to use the unique combination material and methods herein to provide a pharmaceutical composition, a medical device, a tissue regeneration scaffold, as well as a scaffold for 3D organ culture (tissue on a chip, lab grown meat, research stem cell differentiation) comprising a significant amount of acellular tissue particles packed tightly and held together via crosslinking between the acellular particles and a thiolated protein.